Sunday, June 25, 2017

DEAR JANE, THE TOP IS FINISHED!!!

I'm very happy today!! I finished putting the top together yesterday, June 24, 2017! Woo Hoo!!!!!!!! Thanks for all your encouraging words. When I first saw some of these quilts, it was at a quilt show in Fort Worth, Texas on Feb. 8, 2008. Brenda Papadakis was there and gave a talk about her journey making the book and of course the book was for sale. I didn't buy it. I thought about the quilt for a long time and eventually put it on my Christmas list.

I received the book for Christmas on December 25, 2013, from my DS/DIL (after it had been on my Christmas wish list for a few years). I had decided that if I ever got the book I was going to make it. I made the first block on January 22, 2014. I pretty much made all the blocks in order or at least worked on the rows in order. Sometimes, I didn't do each block in the row in order. My plan was to make each of the 169 blocks with a different "main" fabric and not duplicate any of the "main" fabrics in the center square. I did use background fabrics more than one time, but didn't really keep track of them except to try not to put the same ones next to each other.

I had a similar plan for the border triangles in that I didn't duplicate any of the "main" fabrics among them, but some of those fabrics might have been used in the middle section. I bought some better quality muslin for the sashing and corner blocks (kites). I will also use this muslin for the scalloped border around the edges. That will be the next job - to sew on the muslin borders and mark it for the scallops. Then, I will machine quilt it. I plan to get it quilted before September.

Baby robin update: The babies seem to be getting more feathers and they are being fed quite often. We can see the adult birds flying into and out of the nest through our living room windows.

Ruth, it looks wonderful! Congratulations on getting this all put together, you must feel so good. September sounds like a reasonable goal, enjoy these last steps in finishing Dear Jane. Love the story, thanks for telling us. Three and a half years is pretty fast but you really stayed on track.

I had every confidence you would get it finished! It is gorgeous! I'm sure you will also get it quilted by September too, which will be another major accomplishment! Please don't put too much pressure on yourself! Glad you have a good view of the baby birdies; they will be a nice diversion from your quilting for a few minutes each day. ---"Love"

Happy Dance time, Ruth!! So exciting to have completed this, I'm sure. It is lovely to behold. : )Are you going to custom quilt it? I have photos of one that a lady did for our county fair years ago. It is stunning and she won sweepstakes. I wouldn't know where to start!!

Moda Block Heads

About Me

I've been quilting more than 20 years, sewing most of my life. I've been married 54 years, have 3 married sons, 3 wonderful DILs and 5 grandchildren. I am now retired from the U. S. Court! DH and I enjoy camping in our 5th wheel. I have enough ideas to keep me busy for many years of quilting!